Toilet bowl handling and transporting apparatus



R. s. BURNS 3,391,905

TOILET BOWL HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING APPARATUS July 9, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 12, 1966 MLEQEEEEEE V INVENTOR.

Robert 8. Burns BY R. s. BURNS 3,391,905

TOILET BOWL HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING APPARATUS July 9, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12, l96

INVENTOR.

Robert 8. Burns BY V ATTONEY.

United States Patent 3,391,905 TOILET BOWL HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING APPARATUS Robert S. Burns, 15 S. Main St., Millbnry, Mass. 01527 Filed Oct. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 586,135 8 Claims. (Cl. 254-7) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to an article handling apparatus and particularly to an apparatus for handling and transporting toilet bowls.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the handling apparatus comprises:

(a) a U-shaped base frame mounted on casters for transporting the handling apparatus;

(b) an elevating jack mounted on the middle rear portion of the base frame so that it may be folded into the U for carrying;

.(c) a releasable connection between the base frame and the jack for holding the jack in a vertical position when in use;

,(d) a main carrying boom mounted on the jack for carrying the weight of a toilet bowl and having a hinge securing the boom to the jack so that the boom may be rotated from a horizontal working position through approximately 270 to a carrying position;

(e) a fixed clamping assembly mounted on the free end of the main carrying boom and having clamp projections for overlying the upper flange of the toilet bowl and forwardly facing movable clamping jaws for insertion under the flange of the toilet bowl on the inside of the toilet bowl; and

(f) a movable clamping assembly adjustably mounted to slide along the main carrying boom and having clamp projections for overlying the upper flange of the toilet bowl and rearwardly facing movable clamping jaws for insertion under the flange of the toilet bowl on the inside of the toilet bowl.

Background of the invention Devices for handling and transporting various items are known in the prior art but none of them are directed to solving the problems related to the placement and replacement of toilet bowls. The prior art devices are disclosed in US. Patents 2,962,730, 2,903,238, 2,558,535, 2,675,209, and 3,040,908, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein.

In the placement or replacement of closet or toilet bowls of the wall-hung, bolted-on-the-fioor, or the onepiece type, the plumber is faced with a number of problems. The toilet bowls are heavy and awkward and have to be lifted and accurately positioned in a bathroom either when they are installed or removed for repair. Because of the restricted space, the plumber is subject to strain and there is a danger that the bowl will be broken by dropping or bumping it. When the bowl is repositioned or removed for repair, the problems are increased by the presence of water in the bowl resulting in extra weight and the possibility of spillage.

In none of the prior art patents disclosed above have the patentees disclosed:

(a) the use of the handling device for supporting a toilet bowl;

(b) a handling device which folds up and is easily transportable; and

(c) the bowl clamping assembly of the present invention.

3,391,905 Patented July 9, 1968 Description of the invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for positioning, repositioning and transporting toilet bowls.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a handling and transporting apparatus that folds up for carrying when it is not in use.

Other objects of the present invention are the prevention of the dangers to plumbers and damages to the bowls during installation or reinstallation of toilet bowls in a bathroom.

Still another object of the invention is the accurate positioning or repositioning of a toilet bowl in a bathroom.

Still other objects and the broad scope of the invention will become obvious from an inspection of the specification, claims and the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric perspective view of the entire device;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view from the side; and

FIGURE 3 is an isometric perspective view from the rear, showing the device attached to a toilet bowl.

A particular embodiment of the invention may best be described by reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The handling apparatus has a U-shaped base frame with extending arms 3 supported by casters 4. An elevating jack mounting 1 revolves about the middle rear portion of the base frame and is secured in the vertical position by a screw or bolt 5. Rising vertically from the jack mounting 1 are guide bars 2. A long vertical screw 6 is positioned between the two parallel bars 2 for vertical adjustment of a carriage 7 which supports a main carrying boom 8, The free end of the boom carries permanently secured clamp projections 9 and movable clamping jaws 10 actuated by vertical screw 11. Longitudinally slidable on the same boom is an adjustable clamping assembly 12 having generally the same construction as the clamping parts 9, 10, but facing in the opposite direction. After the clamping assembly 12 has been moved to its proper position, it is secured in place by tightening a screw 13.

As particularly shown in FIGURE 3, the handling apparatus is operated by positioning the main carrying boom 8 over the center of the toilet bowl 14 with placement of the clamping members 9 and 10 at the free end of the boom around the rear inside flange of the toilet bowl. The adjustable clamping assembly is then slid back on the main carrying boom 8 until it is in contact with the inside flange at the front of the toilet bowl and is then fastened in this position by tightening the clamping assembly by means of holding screw 13. The clamping members 9 and 10 are then adjusted to hold the toilet bowl rim by turning the vertical screws 11.

The bowl is then adjusted vertically by rotating the handle 17 and the screw 6 to move the carriage 7 and the main carrying boom 8 up or down.

In order to keep the weight of the apparatus low the base frame may be constructed of lightweight metal pipe or conduit. The clamping assembly 12 is adjustable because toilet bowls have some variation in size and shape.

In folding up the apparatus for carrying from one plumbing job to the next, the boom 8 and carriage 7 are raised by handle 17 to the top of guide bars 2., The boom 8 is then rotated approximately 270 about hinge 16 and bolt 5 is removed so that the boom and jack fold into the arms 3. The handle 15 may then be used to hand carry the apparatus to storage or to the next job.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

I claim:

1. A toilet bowl handling apparatus comprising:

(a) a U-shaped base frame;

(b) means for elevating rotatably mounted about the middle rear portion of said base frame;

(c) means for securing said means for elevating in a vertical position connecting said base frame and said means for elevating;

(d) a main carrying boom hingedly mounted on said means for elevating;

(e) a first clamping assembly mounted on the free end of said main carrying boom and having clamp projections for overlying the upper flange of the toilet bowl and forwardly facing movable clamping means for insertion under the flange of the toilet bowl on the inside thereof; and

(f) a second clamping assembly mounted on said main carrying boom and having clamp projectionsfor overlying the upper flange of the toilet bowl and rearwardly facing movable clamping jaws for insertion under the flange of the toilet on the inside thereof.

2. The handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base frame is mounted on casters for movement and positioning of the toilet bowl.

3. The handling apparatus of claim 2, wherein said 4. means for elevating comprises a carriage actuated by a vertical screw positioned between two vertical parallel bars.

4. The handling apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for securing comprises projections on said base frame and projections on said means for elevating said projections having a bolt received therein.

5. The handling apparatus of claim 4, wherein said boom is mounted on said carriage.

6. The handling apparatus of claims, first clamping assembly is fixed to said boom.

7. The handling apparatus of claim 6, second clamping assembly is adjustably mounted on said boom.

8. The handling apparatus of claim 7, wherein said second clamping assembly has a holding screw for tightening said assembly in a fixed position.

wherein said wherein said and slidably References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,262,590 7/1966 Lynn 214-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 493,629 6/ 1953 Canada.

ROBERT G. SHERIDAN, Primary Examiner.

G. F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner. 

